General Care Discussion :: Sera Toxivec for turtles?

[tringlee55]

I have been looking for some water conditioners to keep the water clean, I asked in a store and they recommended Sera products.

Reptibioclear is clearly indicated for turtles
Here: https://www.sera.de/en/products/product ... ear-1.html

But Toxivec is not so clear, as it seems to work in a different way than Reptibioclear, I'm not sure if it would be beneficial for turtles.
Here: https://www.sera.de/en/products/in_cate ... xivec.html


Are these products working together in a supplementary way? Or just with the Reptibioclear would be ok?

[steve]

We stopped using conditioners because they contain harmful chemicals. Using some activated carbon works better and is inexpensive (be sure to buy it in bulk).

[tringlee55]

Well, maybe I was wrong when I called 'conditioner' to the Reptibioclear, I used the word as a generic name, but I think it is not a conditioner in the narrow sense of the word. It is supposed to be just micro-organisms which 'eat' organic waste. So maybe it doesn't have chemicals? The shop assistant guaranteed that it would make no harm at all.


On the other side, I have read opposing views in relation to activated carbon, but I must admit I have no idea in this particular matter. I'll transcribe a negative opinion from a spanish forum:

"El carbón activo retiene los micronutrientes que trae el agua de nuestros grifos [...] Las tortugas necesitan carbonato cálcico (vulgarmente llamado cal) para el desarrollo de sus conchas... asi que intentar quitarlo del agua con tortugas es cuando menos una contradicción."

"The activated carbon retains micronutrients that brings water from our taps [...] Turtles need calcium carbonate (commonly called lime) for the development of their shells ... so trying to remove it from turtle's water is at least a contradiction."

[steve]

A waste neutralizer/degrader could be just as bad, you just don't normally need this stuff. There is something in the US called "Turtle Clean" which is a similar product and we advise against it.

Interesting comment about calcium carbonate. Your turtle should be getting it's calcium through diet, so it is an interesting trade off.

[tringlee55]

Doing some research about the activated carbon I have read that foam pad types are better to be avoided, some people say that they are useless because it's just foam and not real carbon:

These ones:





These are supposed to be the good ones:





Edit: I remember that when I bought my filter (Eheim Ecco pro) it had one of those black foam pads inside, in the shop they told me to just remove it in 2-3 months and never replace it again.

[steve]

Yes, carbon becomes exhausted and will stop being effective. I normally buy in bulk (40oz containers), add it to a reusable media bag, rinse it well, then put it into the filter.

[tringlee55]

Yes, carbon becomes exhausted and will stop being effective. I normally buy in bulk (40oz containers), add it to a reusable media bag, rinse it well, then put it into the filter.

So you don't use foam ones, are they worse?

[Tampa Bay Turtle Fan]

Anything foam, cloth or spongy can trap harmful bacteria over time but in the case of filtration purposes, it is changed frequently for the most part or thoroughly cleaned based on a persons husbandry skills in maintenance. I still favour carbon over foam as well. Just my personal preference.

Cheers.

[steve]

The foam ones as you pointed out are better avoided. They are a bit gimmicky, and not worth the money. It might be more convenient but they are more expensive and less effective. Besides, you should still have other foam in your filter to pick up physical waste (this is referred to as mechanical filtration).

edit - forgot a word.

[Tampa Bay Turtle Fan]

Yes Steve, I have heard the term many times of " mechanical filtration ". Oh I feel so old, I remember when the foam filtration's came out very strong lol